Superheroes

The idea of superheroes and their effect on society is one of the most important motifs of the novel, because Max believes that the best thing someone can be is a superhero. However, he comes to realize over the course of his story that a hero is not someone with powers, but someone willing to do what is right.

It is important to establish that Max’ world is the same as the reader's through the superheroes he discusses. At the beginning of the novel, Max mentions a variety of heroes, both directly in quotes and indirectly through his pictures. The first of these is the Hulk when he breaks out of his locker, calling himself “MAD MAX THE DESTROYER!” (27) Later, he discusses more heroes when talking about the need for a part time job. Max writes, “Spider-man is a newspaper photographer, Superman is an investigative reporter...